Magic Mushroom
Psilocybe cubensis
intermediate difficulty
medium contamination resistance
Medicinal
Family
Hymenogastraceae
Genus
Psilocybe
Growing Parameters
Temperature Requirements
Colonization 70°F - 85°F
(Optimal: 78°F)
Fruiting 65°F - 80°F
(Optimal: 72°F)
Humidity Requirements
Colonization 85% - 95%
(Optimal: 90%)
Fruiting 90% - 95%
(Optimal: 92%)
Total Time
3-4 weeks
Expected Yield
0.5-1 oz dried per cake
Flushes
4 flushes
Substrate Options
Preferred Substrates
Brown rice flour (BRF)
Coir/vermiculite (CVG)
Manure-based substrates
Grain spawn to bulk
Alternative Substrates
Straw
Wood chips (supplemented)
Coffee grounds (supplemented)
Appearance & Characteristics
Physical Appearance
- Cap Color:
- Golden brown to caramel
- Cap Shape:
- Conical when young, convex to flat when mature
- Stem:
- White to cream
- Spore Print:
- Purple-brown to dark purple
Culinary & Medicinal
- Flavor:
- Earthy with bitter notes
- Texture:
- Fibrous stems, smooth caps
- Light Needs:
- Indirect light or low-level artificial light for pinning
- CO2:
- Requires FAE (fresh air exchange) for normal development
Medicinal Properties
- Psychoactive compounds (psilocybin, psilocin)
- Potential therapeutic applications
- Research interest in mental health
Nutritional Highlights
- Contains psilocybin (0.63% average)
- Contains psilocin (0.60% average)
- Various other alkaloids and compounds
Common Problems
Contamination (green mold, bacteria)
Aborts (pins that stop growing)
Overlay (matted mycelium preventing pins)
Side pinning (inadequate surface conditions)
Important Notes
- Legal status varies by jurisdiction
- Popular research organism
- Many cultivated strains available
- Requires sterile technique
- Blue bruising indicates psilocybin presence
Quick Stats
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Colonization
- 10-14 days
- Fruiting
- 7-10 days
- Efficiency
- 50-100%
- Cultivation
- indoor